WELCOME TO ~~FOR HEART AND HOME~~

Welcome to my blog ~For Heart and Home~. Thank you to my dear friend Linda from New York who took the pictures I sent her and made this beautiful banner for me. I visualized what I wanted it to look like and she made it happen. That is my sister and I as youngsters and yes, that is the home I grew up in during the 40's and 50's. Right about now, you are all probably saying, my goodness she is old. I am vintage, just like fine old lace. Thank you also to my good friend Debbi, from Oregon who answered questions non stop while I was trying to navigate the workings of the blog world. What is so wonderful is that friendships can reach across the miles and even tho we have never seen each other in person - through the wonders of the computer, we have developed that bond. Also, a big thank you to my good friend Mona also from New York, who often helps me after I have totally screwed something up on the computer. I feel very Blessed to have you all as my friends. Thank you and I hope everyone enjoys my blog. I know I will.

Monday, November 24, 2008

As far back as I can remember when I was growing up, my mother always wore skirts and dresses. I don't recall ever seeing her in a pair of slacks until probably in the late 70's. My mother was a beautiful seamstress and made most of her own clothes. I vividly remember her in pretty floral skirts with a coordinating blouse that she had made and quite often with a dainty brooch at the neck. I can even remember her washing the floor with her skirt kind of pinned up out of her way. I have posted one picture of my mom and I when I was probably around 6 and even I am in a cute little suit that she made for me. The other pictures are her and my dad on a trip to Florida in front of a large fish - no slacks there either. The one picture I just love is of my mom, my grandfather and a lady friend from Chicago at a family picnic and both ladies are in skirts, and playing croquet no less. That is how I remember my mom - always impeccably dressed even when she was doing house work. I don't know how she did it. When I am doing housework or washing the floor - you don't want to see me as it is not a pretty picture.

"Pants for women started in the 1930-1940s. Dress pants or slacks were popularized by Katherine Hepburn who shocked people by wearing wide legged pants, and Marlene Dietrich who wore men's tuxedos tailored to fit her. Jeans for women started in the 1950's, but solely for recreation like camping, hiking, etc. It wasn't until the late 60s to early 70s that jeans became acceptable to wear in public or school. Big designer labels came mostly in the early 80s with Calvin Klein."

As stated above even tho a few of the stars wore the wide legged pants in the 40's - most women didn't wear them until the late 60's or early 70's.

I remember pants or slacks for women were not allowed in the office or schools until probably in the 70's. When I worked for a legal office in the 60's there were no women wearing what we refer to today as the power suit or business suit. That came later.

What is ironic is that in my mother's later years when she was in her late 60's, 70's and 80's - she would only wear slacks because she complained that her legs were too thin to wear skirts. How times have changed. I do know one thing tho - my mother would not have liked the hipsters the kids wear now with their stomachs hanging over the top. She would have been appalled.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Today, November 11th, we give honor to our fallen soldiers by wearing a red poppy. Here is a bit of the history of the poppy.

Why the Poppy?

Today, fields of brilliant poppies still grow in France.

A writer first made the connection between the poppy and battlefield deaths during the Napoleonic wars of the early 19th century, remarking that fields that were barren before battle exploded with the blood-red flowers after the fighting ended.

During the tremendous bombardments of the First World War the chalk soils became rich in lime from rubble, allowing 'popaver rhoeas' to thrive. When the war ended the lime was quickly absorbed, and the poppy began to disappear again.

After John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields was published in 1915 the poppy became a popular symbol for soldiers who died in battle.

Three years later an American, Moina Michael, was working in a New York City YMCA canteen when she started wearing a poppy in memory of the millions who died on the battlefield.

During a 1920 visit to the United States a French woman, Madame Guerin, learned of the custom. On her return to France she decided to use handmade poppies to raise money for the destitute children in war-torn areas of the country. In November, 1921, the first poppies were distributed in Canada.

Thanks to the millions of Canadians who wear flowers each November, the little red plant has never died. And neither have Canadian's memories for 116,031 of their countrymen who died in battle.

Today I am going to share with you some of the pink Christmas ornaments I just finished making. I cut my own wood, paint them with roses and add German Glass Glitter. This is truly a labor of love because from start to finish to cleaning up the sawdust, it is very time consuming. But the good news is I absolutely love making them. I have some for sale in my e-bay shop and Etsy shop. Just in case someone would love to have them. I just did a large white angel for my secret Santa swap and I will show that to you as well.

Friday, November 7, 2008

People who are familiar with my work know that I sew and paint roses, however, today I am going to introduce you to some of the angels I make all out of fabric and wool. I use hodgepodge for stiffener, and use myself as a model in the mirror when I am posing their arms and heads. I know you are getting quite a visual with that one. My husband has walked in on me when I was trying to get the arms just right and I was in an awkward contortion of a post - he stood there for a few seconds and then asked me if I was alright. You gotta laugh. I make some of them holding choir books, others lifting up tiny birds to the sky and my favorite of course is the praying hands. The angels you are seeing today I had done for a fund raiser. A lady in our church is raising money to build an orphanage in Haiti and they were having a fund raising social with silent auction. These were made for that event. I always spray them gold and they have no facial expression really, just closed eyes. I hope you like them.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I have been awarded the Marie Antoinette Blog Award by Debbi of All in My Cottage. Thank you for the honor ! Please visit her blog at www.cgtreasures.blogspot.com.

Here are the rules:1. Please put the logo on your blog. 2. Link it to the person from whom you received the award. 3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs. 4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog. 5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them (I'm letting them know here too)And the winners are:~

http://www.foursistersinacottage.blogspot.comhttp://www.country-charm.blogspot.comhttp://www.mymothersdaughter-maryb.blogspot.comhttp://www.owcl.blogspot.com.http://www.oatmeal and whimsy.blogspot.comhttp://www.thejoyof.blogspot.comhttp://www.shabbyinthecity.blogspot.com

Monday, November 3, 2008

It has been one of the most beautiful November days in memory today. Blue sky and very warm. I am sure we will pay for this wonderful weather in a week or two with below zero temperatures and swirling snow. Life in the Great White North - you gotta love it.

I am anxiously awaiting the US elections tomorrow as I have been following all of the debates and of course, have my opinion as to who I would choose. Darn - I don't get a vote. What a milestone this election will produce - either way it will change American history and my hope for my American friends is that it helps your economy and gives people hope for a better tomorrow.

Our Canadian elections came and went with hardly a whimper - no big hoop la and no big changes. Some times the more things change the more they stay the same, so maybe there was change and I missed it.

Well - I have got to get to bed as I will be up late tomorrow watching the election results. Should be interesting.

WELCOME FRIENDS

Friday Flea Market

About Me

I love finding beautiful old laces and combining them with gorgeous fabrics to make something useful and beautiful. I paint roses on just about everything giving old items new life. I have been married to the same man for 49 years. We love old cars and have two 1932 Fords, which we drive to many rod runs. I have two children. Leanne who is married to Grant and has one daughter Alexandra. My son Cory who is not married and is a long haul trucker. I have looked after my grand daughter every day since she was six months old and she is now 15, while her parents go to work. She is my absolute joy. I absolutely love being in my craft room and creating.